It may be chilly today, but in a month, we will be complaining about how hot it is; and everything will be growing like gangbusters. In addition to an impressive line-up of guest speakers, Extension is also pleased to be providing classes for the Adult Education program of Arlington Public Schools and at special events. The April line up of Urban Agriculture and Natural Resource management offerings is extensive and has a lineup of excellent program presenters. It all begins with a double header of programming on April 2; Dr. Marcus Comer will teach Shiitake Mushroom Production from Virginia State University. This is a hands-on grow your own workshop and demonstration of the Organic Vegetable Garden’s mushroom growing logs and gardens. Potomac Overlook Park 1-4pm; $35. From 7-9 pm the same evening, Dr. Comer will provide a public program at the Fairlington Community Center on Sustainable and Alternative Urban Agriculture Production. FREE! For more information please go to www.mgnv.org or call the Horticulture Help Desk at 703 228 6414. April 3 from 7-8:30 author and guest speaker Evelyn Hadden talks about lawn alternatives in her program entitled Beautiful No Mow Lawns followed on April 10th with a program called Incorporating Native Plants in Your Garden from 7- 8:30 pm at Fairlington Community Center. We are pleased to present our guest speaker for this event, Alan Ford of the Virginia Native Plant Society
All programs are free unless otherwise stated. Register to attend by calling the Horticulture Help Desk at 703 228 6414 or email to mgarlalex@gmail.com
Look for ANR volunteers at the Arlington Central Library Wednesdays in the Garden Talks: starting March 18 through October, Alexandria Earth Day at Ben Brenman Park on April 20, NoVA Food Coalition events at George Mason University on April 21 and at our plant clinics at many local farmer’s markets in both Arlington and Alexandria.
For more info about all of these programs and more look at the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia www.mgnv.org
Energy Masters Volunteers Win Green Giant Award
The Arlington Energy Masters, the corps of volunteers who make energy and water saving improvements in low-income apartments, will be featured in the May issue of Washingtonian magazine as one of the winners of the publication’s Green Giant awards. The awards recognize groups and individuals in the Washington, DC area who are making significant contributions to addressing environmental issues.
The Energy Masters program was started in 2011 by Virginia Cooperative Extension, Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment, and Arlingtonians Meetings Emergency Needs. Since its inception, the partners have trained 56 volunteers who have made energy and water improvements in 201 apartments, with the goal of completing at least 50 more by the end of the fiscal year in June. In each apartment teams of volunteers replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones, install outlet gaskets, low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators, and power strips, caulk leaks, and clean refrigerator coils. The goal of the program is to help low-income residents reduce their utility bills while also reducing the greenhouse gas emissions released from multi-family properties. The energy and water-saving improvements have already started to pay off, with one building where the volunteers worked last May reporting a 5% average decrease in residents’ utility bills.
If you are interested in learning more about this program or becoming an Energy Master, contact Jennifer at jabel@vt.edu. The next training for volunteers will be held in the fall of 2013.
Shiitake Mushroom Production Workshop – Tues April 2, 1 – 4 pm
Register now for a public workshop on Shiitake Mushroom Production, Tuesday April 2, 1 – 4 pm sponsored by the Arlington Office of Virginia Cooperative Extension with support from Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia. The workshop is at Potomac Regional Overlook Park.
Shiitake Log – by Rob Hille
Dr. Marcus Comer, Extension Specialist, Natural Resource Management, Virginia State University (Petersburg), leads this hands-on workshop on growing shiitake mushrooms in your backyard. You’ll learn how to inoculate logs with mushroom spawn, care for your log and harvest the mushrooms.
A $35 fee covers all supplies.
Register by sending a check made out to Virginia Cooperative Extension for $35 and mail to Arlington County VCE, 3308 S. Stafford St., Arlington, VA 22206.
For information about Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, visit www.mgnv.org.
Bon Appetit
ANR Starts to Bloom
It is said that March, “comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb”. They were talking about the weather and not about our Agriculture Natural Resource (ANR) program schedule, but we are just roaring along and the end of March will feel completely different. Our big plans for March include the major presence of Master Gardeners and interns at the Arlington Home Show and Landscape Expo. This annual event that is held at Thomas Jefferson Community Center (3501 S. Second St. Arlington) will feature Urban Agriculture techniques including vertical gardening, low tech irrigation techniques, and container gardening of all kinds. Please plan to visit us between 10 AM and 5 PM on March 9!
On March 14, Virginia Tech Turf Specialist, Dr. Mike Goatley, will present a program entitled “Beautiful Greens” Spring Lawn Care for Northern Virginia. This FREE program is a very high level education from a nationally recognized educator. Check his Lawn care podcasts here.
March 13 and continuing weekly through October, the Wednesdays in the Garden demonstration programs at Arlington Central Library will start up. This series of programs that are delivered by VCE volunteers and Arlington Food Assistance Volunteers, is centered on the library’s beautiful edible landscaping.
March 20 you can catch either a composting and soil fertility program at
Arlington’s Westover Library or you can learn about gardening from VCE
volunteers at the Arlington public schools Adult Education program on Seed
starting and Vegetable gardening. Go here for a full line up of VCE-ANR
programs taught in the Arlington Adult Education Program.
March 21 VCE hosts the Arlington Egg Project here at Fairlington at 7:00 pm.
Master Gardeners also has a Speakers Bureau. We provide programs on a range of
topics for garden clubs, scout groups, special events, schools, and more. For more
information about any of our gardening programs please contact the Master
Gardener Help Desk at 703 228 6414 or by email at mgarlalex@gmail.com
You can also see a full schedule of events at www.mgnv.org
Sharp rise in requests for financial and nutrition programs – book now!
Jennifer Abel and volunteers fulfilled 45 program requests in the month of February. Programs included two Kids Marketplace financial simulations at Glebe and Drew Elementary Schools, a two-day Reality Store at Wakefield High School, and cooking and nutrition classes at Colonial Village Apartments, Clarendon House, Gates of Ballston Community Center, Langston-Brown Senior Center, and Virginia Gardens Apartments.
Financial counseling was conducted at the tax clinics in Arlington and Alexandria. Nutrition education was provided at four AFAC food distribution sites. Volunteers taught a four-session money management class at the Macedonian Apartments, and Energy Masters made improvements at Harvey Hall Apartments.
The fast pace continues in March with nutrition class series planned for four different classes at TC Williams High School, Master Food Volunteer training, a spring break financial camp in Alexandria, a class on cooking with less salt at Langston-Brown Senior Center, a money management class series at Arlington DHS, another Energy Masters work day at Harvey Hall Apartments, and an energy conservation presentation at Walter Reed Community Center.
We are grateful for the help of our many volunteers and always eager to have more, so
if you are not already involved in these programs and would like to be, contact
Jennifer at jabel@vt.edu.
Take a LEAP – Literacy, Eating and Activity for Preschoolers
During the month of February, Megan Mauer conducted 3 LEAP
(Literacy, Eating and Activity for Preschoolers) trainings for the Campagna Center, Alexandria Head Start programs.
Head Start Teachers and Assistant Teachers at Jefferson Houston, John Adams, NOVA and Early Head Starts all in Alexandria are now beginning the LEAP program with their students. Fridays in March, Megan will assist with the Master Food Volunteer Trainings being held in Fairfax and Arlington.
4-H Summer Camp – information is on the website
It’s almost that time of year! Yes, 4-H camp is just around the corner. As of now we are accepting applications for camp counselors and C.I.T’s (Counselors in Training). Later this month we will start accepting applications for 4-H campers. This year camp will be held from Sunday, July 7 to Thursday, July 11. This popular camp is the ultimate camp experience. 4-H camp programs consist of leadership, environmental and aquatic science, performing arts, forestry, outdoor adventures, animal science, horsemanship, science, and technology. Youth will have the opportunity to learn and have fun in a safe environment.
For more information and applications for 4-H camp
visit our website at www.ext.vt.edu/offices/arlington under the news section.
Master Food Volunteers Training – Doubles in Size!
This March, Katie and Jennifer couldn’t be happier to be
training such an exciting group of Master Food Volunteers.
Thanks to referrals from our partners and enhanced marketing
strategies, we have doubled the size of this year’s training class!
Volunteers will help residents learn practical skills to eat healthy
and be active, through educational partnerships with childcare
providers, community gardens, senior centers, and more.
A Warm Welcome to Dan Redmond
My name is Dan Redmond, the interim VCE Master
Gardener Coordinator. I had the pleasure of completing the
Master Gardening training course in 2012, and I am currently a
VCE MG trainee. Although I have only taken the MG course,
I have gardened for food production about eight years, the last
four of which was used for distribution to those in need at my
son’s elementary school. I remember my preschool days in the
vegetable garden with my mother, and enjoy seeing my young
boys delight in the fruits of their garden labors.
In 2012, I also completed a graduate degree in
Sustainability and Environmental Management, researching
water use for energy production and community resilience to
climate change. Other interests are urban agriculture, solar
power, and electrical vehicles. Our home and car are partly
powered by energy from the sun. I also regularly go on
gleaning excursions for AFAC to local farms; with a corps of
other volunteers, we can often harvest 1,000-2,000 pounds of
fresh produce on a Saturday morning. Feel free to ask me
questions about these topics if we share similar interests.
I look forward to working with you on VCE
programming as the growing season commences!
Excited for tax season?
Generally when tax season rolls around, there’s a sense of gloom in the air. “Have you filed your taxes yet?” becomes the ever-popular question, and it pervades our everyday lives until we’ve finally sent them off. As long as you’re armed with the proper information, there’s no need to dread these first few months.
If you are a low-income earner, you may be eligible for free tax preparation. The IRS sponsors numerous Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites, including two in the Arlington/Alexandria area. Visit http://dceitc.org/how_to_file.html for more information. You may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, one of the biggest government benefits provided to low-income persons to alleviate poverty. If you do receive a refund, try to save as much as possible.
Tips for all filers:
- Be prepared for direct deposit. If you receive a refund, the fastest and best way to process it is by having it directly deposited into your bank account. Bring your checkbook and/or your bank routing and account number to provide to your preparer.
- What if you owe money? If you owe taxes, your best course of action is to file your return no matter what, then pay what you can by the deadline (federal deadline is April 15, 2013). If you cannot pay the balance, contact the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 to set up a payment plan. The IRS can be very accommodating, as long as you keep the lines of communication open.
- If you have either a big refund or a large amount due, consider changing your withholding in your current paycheck. Go to http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/IRS-Withholding-Calculator to determine the appropriate amount to withhold each paycheck, then complete a W-4 and forward it to your HR Department.
Are you planning to visit a paid tax preparer?
- Shop around. Ask friends and family for recommendations, but be careful to check other references. There are plenty of scammers in the tax preparation business who would love nothing more than to take your money and run. Look for a permanent office and check the BBB website for any previous complaints. Keep in mind that even if the BBB has no complaints listed, it isn’t a guarantee that the company is reputable. The preparer should be thorough and record all information in accordance with tax laws. Just because you made income in cash, doesn’t mean you don’t have to report it to the IRS. The tax preparer should ensure all income is reported accurately.
- Ask about fees at the beginning. The tax preparer should not base his/her cut on your refund amount, and it’s possible he/she will charge more for additional forms prepared (such as Schedule C).
- Avoid refund anticipation loans (RALs). This is a very expensive way to receive your refund early. You can be charged a very large fee, and it isn’t much of a benefit since refunds are usually sent within a few weeks.
- Before you sign the returns, make sure all information appears accurate and complete. The preparer’s Employer Identification Number (EIN) or SSN should be listed on the return. Have the preparer answer any questions you have to your satisfaction. After signing, keep a copy of your return for your own files.
- It is ultimately your responsibility to file an accurate tax return. If the IRS finds an error in your return, you will be the first person it contacts, not the preparer.
For other tax assistance, contact Community Tax Aid.
Cooperative Extension will be providing financial counseling at both Arlington and Alexandria VITA sites, on Tuesday & Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings during the tax season. Even if you are not intending to file with these preparers, you are welcome to sit down with us to discuss your financial concerns. Please visit our calendar for dates, times, and locations.